"You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed with grace, since God has blessed you forever." Psalm 45:2    

Solomon said, "There is a time to keep silent and a time to speak."  Our trouble is that we often speak when we should be silent, and are silent when we ought to speak.    

Jesus made good for our sinful speech and for our sinful silence. In His lips there was no guile. When He was reviled, He reviled not again. But when words were needed, even hard words, He did not shrink for the call of duty.    

His words were like flaming arrows striking straight and true into  the human heart. No wonder that the officers, sent to arrest Jesus, came back empty-handed after having listened to Him, with only this explanation. "Never a man spake like this man."    

His words exposed the evil of the heart. But His words also brought healing to the heart in its sin. On His lips was the word of grace, the pledge of a heavenly Father's restoring love, the message that "God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."      

Christian friends, To this day we may hear His gracious voice speaking to us in and through the Scriptures. Dare we neglect to hear and heed His Word?  

I heard the voice of Jesus say, "                                                         Behold, I freely give                                                                                                                 The living water, thirsty one;                                                                Stoop down and drink and live."  

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -  The LORD speaks, and thy servant hears. PS. Thanks to all of you for the lovely birthday greetings.